Chapter Eleven - The Envelope

Violetta's POV

"Violetta!" Anna whined, trying to wake me from my slumber. I jumped up in reflex, embarrassed after figuring out what had happened. I fell asleep on my first day at work. Anna and Mike were standing before me and I could see the resemblance aside from the eye and hair colour. "I'm so sorry, I uh I-i" I began stuttering in fear. "It's ok, food can make people sleepy." she comforted.

"It's not okay, who falls asleep at work on their first day. It's unprofessional. Especially in an open place like this", Mike scolded making me even more embarrassed. Great, I made a bad impression already.

"Mike there's no need to be so strict, people make mistakes," she said giving me a consoling pat on the back. "I am sorry, I promise it won't happen again." I guaranteed. "Whatever", Mike let out hardly. He is mean, I mean ok I fell asleep, big whoop. I already apologized a hundred times, well, actually twice but still.

"You did nicely today. The data you put in the cash book and ledger was accurate and you learned very fast. Keep up the good work. You've done your training for the day, so till it's time to get off work,  just follow Mike around and help him with whatever he needs. He'll explain some other things to you as well. I have a meeting to get to so I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." Anna announced, waving to Mike and me and walking down a small hall on the floor we were on. I wonder how big this floor is.

Mike began to walk off to an elevator and I silently followed behind. This is probably the personal elevator he put aside for himself. He slashed a card through a scanner which made the elevator open. I stood outside wondering whether to go with him or to take the other one but he pulled me out of my thoughts. "Well, don't slow me down. Get in"

I trotted into the elevator, apologizing to him. He pressed on the ground floor and immediately after, the elevator began to move. It was a quiet ride down but we made it out of the awkward silence safely. He walked off into the area, using his presence to shut the mouths of anyone who was speaking.

We eventually got outside the building where he got into the back of a black van and I followed behind. "What's your name again?" Mike asked turning his head to face me. "Violetta", I said and soon after, the silence was back. The van came to a stop and Mike uttered.

"I want two double cheeseburgers, the crispy sauced chicken thigh pack, extra large fries, and a bottle of water," he said right before the van opened to reveal a fast food restaurant. He makes me question my choice of applying for this job. I got down from the van and turned around to glare at him. "You can get something for yourself if you want," he said, handing me a credit card. "It's 1290" he mumbled and then shut the van door.

I walked into the restaurant upset and waited in a short line to order. When it was my turn, I ordered two of everything he had said and waited patiently for the food to be served. I took the bag filled with the fare, walked back to the van, opened it up, and hopped in.

"Here you go Your Highness", I gave him the packed food, mocking him. "Mhh, thank you for the food, my noble servant. I see you got some for yourself too, just make sure you don't fall asleep", he let out, taunting me of my slumbering incident. We ate our meals in the car as it moved and he made me clean it up when he was done.

Fucking bastard.

"You passed the listening skills," he said. "What do you mean?"I asked wondering how I passed that. "Now don't act stupid. You were able to remember everything I said and I didn't even tell you to listen before I told you what I wanted" he clarified. Oh, that makes sense.

The van stopped and the door was opened by the driver to reveal a tall building which we wandered into and went up to the fifth floor. "I have a meeting here. This envelope has crucial information. Put it in locker nineteen, hold the key tight, and make sure you don't lose it. Whatever you do, make sure that envelope is safe" he ordered, handing me a key with nineteen written on it.

He went ahead to sit with some other men while I did as he said and put the envelope into its assigned locker, wondering what was so important to lock up. I waited for about ten minutes hoping the day would move faster so I could go back to my kids and see where we would be living.

An alarm suddenly went off, followed by a man running down the stairs screaming "FIRE". Everyone in the hall including Mike got up and began to run down the stairs and I followed in fear. How the hell did a fire start? When I got down to the third floor, I began to smell burning paper which tightened me more and reminded me about the envelope I was to keep safe.

I ran back upstairs, removing the small key from my pocket, and hurriedly tried to open up the locker. The smoke was getting worse and I began to tremble in panic, making it tougher to open up the locker. I eventually got it done and instantly grabbed the envelope, then commenced running back down the stairs. On my way down, I found Mike running up from below the stairwell. He grabbed my hand and ran back down, taking me along with him till we got outside. I watched as the building began to emit black smoke and firefighter trucks pulled up with their loud sirens.

"Where is the envelope?" he interrogated. Really? After all that, he's asking for the envelope. It must be important. "It's here," I said presenting it to him, whilst coughing slightly. He gazed at me for a moment in shock looking a bit dissatisfied.

"I didn't think you'd pass. I was trying hard to prove my sister wrong", he said frowning. "What?" I shouted, bitterness boiling up in me. "It was just a test for your ability to work under pressure. We set up a small fire on the top floor and I gave you the envelope to protect," he said.

"So you're telling me I almost died from smoke intoxication for a fucking test? I have kids to get back to you know. What kind of messed up bullshit is that?" I screamed, getting off the anger that had grown inside of me, tears building up at the thought of leaving my children all alone after promising things would get better. Letting them down the way my parents let me down.

"Hey, It wasn't my intention. It was a minor fire and it was on the top floor so I didn't think it would've done any damage," he said, without any expression on his face. I stormed off into the van slamming the door as hard as I could. A while after, Mike came in through the other side along with the driver who got into the front seat.

"I didn't think you would go back for the envelope," he said. I hadn't heard sorry from his mouth and I knew I wouldn't hear it.

"Yeah, I just happen to be crazy. I don't know why I went back myself. What's so important about the envelope anyways" I investigated. "Well, don't get mad but it's nothing. Just blank A4 papers" he resolved, bringing out a few sheets of plain paper.

I let a scoff leave my mouth earning a small sigh from Mike. "I'm done with the tests right?" I asked. "Oh yes. Tomorrow, you're officially my assistant. Anything else you don't know, you'll learn as we advance", he clarified, receiving a nod from me.

The van stopped once again and the door was opened for me to reveal a beautiful hotel-like building. The grass was as green as the color green could go, dancing to the rhythm of the wind, and golden lights surrounded the building, plastered on each floor.

The path leading to the entrance was made of concrete with small bulbs following it straightforwardly, separating it from the green grass.

"This is your new home", Mike said sternly, returning to his normal rude self. "I'll show you the way to your apartment. Anna should be waiting for us," he said walking into the the tall and wide building, similar to his workplace but fancier and and more homely. I followed behind him through the big glass door that revealed a beautiful encasement.

The inside was much better than the outside. The receptionist was covered by a rocky surface and white sofas were scattered across the other side of the room. I noticed the two elevators that people were waiting for and the golden stairwell nearby. "It's nice right?" Anna said, bringing me back to reality. "Yeah, it's very nice", I replied with an excited smile.

"Well then, let's go", she asserted, walking up the stairs with Mike. "Your apartment is on the third floor. There are two apartments on each floor and there are fifteen floors in total. This is the building for Mike workers, some pay and some don't, depending on their field." She explained.

"There are only two apartments on each floor?" I asked, still gawking at everything my eyes met. "Yep, now with that in mind, imagine how big each one will be." She said jovially.

I got a view of each floor up to the third as the stairs went straight, revealing each. They all had receptionists and sitting areas at each side and down each part of the room was a door with a covered keypad.

We finally got to the third floor which looked just like the other two below. Anna walked over to the oak door at the other side of the room, right after nodding to the receptionist in respect. "This is your room and that woman other there is the receptionist, who you can call if you have any questions. The keypad will automatically remember the number you put in now as your code so make sure you think well and hard of four numbers you won't forget. We don't want you locked out of your house." she deciphered.

"Also, let Mike see it. Someone close by should have the code, just for safety reasons", she explained. I pressed the number 1506—my children's birthday—into the keypad with Mike hovering close to me just enough for him to see what I had put in.

The door opened to reveal a shot path with a door on the right and left. I walked further in to see a massive sitting room with a brown and white ombreyed floor and a glass window covering the other side of the room from left to right.

The sofas were brown complimented by a furry carpet that was under a white coffee table. The room was filled with ornaments and to the right was a sliding transparent door that looked like it led to a kitchen and a white dining table surrounded with white chairs. Before I was able to explore further, my children came running out from the opposite side of the room.

"Mommy!" Nora shrieked hugging my legs tight, followed by Naomi and Nickolas. "Hi!" I shrieked heartily, bending down and getting on my knees to hug them. After we had finished our small reunion, I got up to find Mike staring at my children and me, with delicate eyes. I had never seen him look at anything with such affection.

"Mummy look, it's Superman", Nickolas shouted aloud, pointing to Mike, earning a chuckle from him. "It's nice to meet you", Mike said bending down to Nickolas's level. "Anna picked up a remote on the white table beside her and clicked on a button with windows written under it and in a second, the beautiful view of the streets closed, covered by black widow blinds, leaving the room bright with the peach lights shining from the ceiling.

"Let me show you around and explain a few things," she said, walking over to the sliding door I had seen earlier. "So! You have seen your dining and living room. This is your kitchen" she spoke, opening the door with its handle. "There is gas available, so make sure to keep the children out. The door was purposefully designed with high handles to prevent easy access to children. You can go grocery shopping at the mall when you're free so you can stock up your fridge, cabinets, spice racks etcetera." she explained, leaving the kitchen and walking over to the other side of the space.

She opened up another door, which was wooden and not sliding to reveal a bedroom which I believe is mine. My first-ever bedroom that wasn't cramped and didn't look like trash.

It had white and peach ombre tiles and black walls with stars drawn on it. The queen-sized bed stood firm and neatly arranged on the elevated part of the room, accompanied by a small table that held a lamp. To the right was a sitting area with a white sofa, a rectangular brown table that rested on a big white rug, and a big wall.

A white table and chair in front of it were also placed in the room, right beside an empty bookcase. To the left was a door, which must lead to the bathroom, and a mini fridge.

"Let me show you something cool," Anna said, climbing over the single step that led to my bed. She picked up the remote on the little table and clicked a button that opened up the roof to uncover a small staircase. I was amazed at the extraordinary site before me. She climbed up the steps which disclosed another big room. I climbed up as well, along with Mike, leaving my children below.

It was a walk-in closet. A huge one. There were racks scattered at every corner you glimpsed, filled with all the clothes I had bought with Anna and two doors that we checked. One led to a jewelry and bag display while the other had a shoe display.

"So, every morning, you can come up here and pick out an outfit for yourself. Everything is arranged according to brands and type of clothing, so it's easy to look for items," she said. "Look over here for example. These are fitted dresses from Gucci and on that other rack, those are fitted dresses from Louis Vuitton," she explained, pointing at the racks with outfit names on them.

"The same goes for the jewelry and bags. It's all arranged according to brand," she told once more. "Wow, thank you so much for this. I appreciate it," I said, taking in the view of the huge room. The carpet-covered floor, the black racks filled with clothing, the dangling lights on the roof, and the small doors at the end of the path.

"Let's take a look at your children's room", she spoke, getting my attention. We walked down the little stairs and out of my room, shutting the door behind us.

The first was the room for Nora and Naomi and the other was for Nickolas. They both looked like and had the same furniture but the girls' room was slightly bigger than the one for Nickolas. Nickolas' room was spacious with a bed big enough for two, a mat under a big toy box, a table and a chair for work, a large two-piece wardrobe, and a spotless toilet.

The girl's room has the same arrangement except for two beds, two tables, and a bigger mat and toy box as well as a huge wardrobe. Nickolas's room was themed blue, while the girls' room was themed pink.

Anna taught me how to use the three remotes allotted to me. The first controlled the room temperature and the huge drapes which she advised me to close at night. The second was in my room, which controlled the AC and the staircase that led to the walk-in closet. The third was the TV remote but that was basic and easy to figure out.

We concluded the tour and it was time for Anna and Mike to leave. "Heli can show you around the estate sometime later but for now have a good night's rest and get ready for work tomorrow. Heli will also drop your kids at school so make sure they are ready by 8 am. School starts at 9. You don't need to make lunch for them because it's served in school, but they should eat breakfast which is served at the cafeteria on the ground floor before leaving," Anna deciphered.

She gifted me three school bags for my kids to take to school the next day as well as their uniforms and new school shoes before she left along with Mike.

I couldn't thank God enough for blessing me with such gifts that I couldn't even dream of having. It truly was amazing.

For the first time, I felt like my father's words had no play in my life. That I would become something great.

Someone great.

Like I was no longer the useless girl that got pregnant. Instead, I was the single mom that gave her kids a great life.

The life both my parents couldn't give.


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Once again, if been really busy, but thank God I was able to upload today. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please vote and give feedback in the comments. It is very much appreciated.

Q and A
1. What's your opinion on the tests?

2. How do you see Mike?

3. Do you think Violetta should've allowed Mike to see her passcode?

Please feel free to comment and share.😊

. Stay tuned for the next chapter... Firsts

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